New Mexico police remove 3 children from church compound

[uppityperson]

Source: AP

State police have removed three children from an apocalyptic church whose leader claims to be the Messiah and acknowledges having sex with some of his followers.

The two girls and one boy — all under the age of 18 — were taken from the northeastern New Mexico compound following an April 22 investigation, Romaine Serna, spokeswoman for the state Children, Youth and Families Department spokeswoman, said Wednesday.

She said a fourth child, a girl, agreed to be interviewed by the department. Serna said that girl had been at the compound but now lives elsewhere with her parents.

The three children were taken into state custody because of allegations of inappropriate contact between minors and the adult leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, Serna said.
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Serna said two of the children removed from the ranch were placed in foster homes, and one accepted voluntary placement, which usually means with a friend or relative. Serna said her agency received information on April 21 that warranted the removal of the children. She declined to reveal the information or its source.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jsH7mJX6DLL_3T9EQ6po9ojGv4-gD90CBC400

[bdamomma]

1. great family values huh?

:sarcasm:

[uppityperson]

2. Religious rights end before the point of abusing kids.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. The farthest reaches of the right have long known...

That encapsulating everything you do in a putative "church" is a great way to get away with a lot. It was only natural that:

A. Sexual Predators would pick up on the scam. After all, being a manipulative sociopath is a portable skill and helpful in both sexual predation and leading cultic organizations.

B. Conversely, For they that suffer from strong spirit and weak flesh, a strongly controlled cult, where they are in the leadership, is a great place to start indulging some of your darkest urges, since your accountability within the organization is effectively nil.

And for the record, I have come to the opinion that cultic organizations such as the FLDS and others configured like it have morphed into a good way for a lot of old men to get them some young sweetmeat, incestuous even. And little else of any good effect.

[IntravenousDemilo]

4. Oh for god's sake, just ban all religions so we can have a moment's peace.

There isn't a good one in the bunch.

[mac2]

6. There are some who have not joined the Faith Based

Charity since it gives government power over them. They also protested the war, torture, and genocide. They support separation of church and state. They are good citizens. I know the Presbyterians did.

Public funding does more harm than good court case.

http://www.au.org/site/DocServer/Detroit_Brief__2008-04-16_1938a_FINAL_AS_FILED_.pdf?docID=2601

[LanternWaste]

7. Must be "cool" to have such absolute knowledge

Yeah. Right. Must be "cool" to have such absolute knowledge of all the world's religious philosophies. Many people would be jealous.

[IntravenousDemilo]

11. It is, at that.

And, well, yes, they should be.

[izquierdista]

9. Yes!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[FiveGoodMen]

10. Amen (so to speak)

[DAGDA56]

5. Does anyone know if this is the same group that was profiled...

...on the NatGeo channel a week or so ago?

[LeftyMom]

13. That'd be the one.

Since they removed three girls and a boy, I'm assuming it's the same teenagers from the documentary, removed because of the stuff said on it (about the nudity, their lack of education, etc.)

[Zachstar]

8. Glad the pressure is being put on the sects that engage in unlawful activity.

Problem is their lawyer teams.

[distantearlywarning]

12. Weird synchronicity.

I just finished watching a documentary about this group, and then I logged into DU to see this story on the front page.